Unsure if I have an underground water leak

Discussion in 'Plumbers' Talk' started by CBJGLASGOW, Sep 6, 2023.

  1. CBJGLASGOW

    CBJGLASGOW Member

    Hi dray
    I'm waiting for batteries to arrive as mine were dead from last time I use the reader. I intend to dig deeper today. I was also going to contact Scottish Water to see if they can tell me where the underground pipes are as I may share the same pipe as my neighbour who's house is still council owned. They only said it was my problem the last time I spoke to them which wasn't very helpful.
     
  2. CBJGLASGOW

    CBJGLASGOW Member

    This is what I've collected from the past 2-3 weeks from kitchen cupboard and around the living room and back hall area?
    There are more of these all over the house sadly.
     

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  3. dray

    dray Screwfix Select

    That is not necessarily proving that you have water/damp coming into your house, but if they are hanging all over the house it does look a bit strange if you don't mind me saying

    Have a look at the link below regarding moisture in uk new builds and in particular the detail of average moisture. The NHBC say that a retired couple would collect average of 215 full buckets of water a year ( 4/5 full buckets a week , if it was not effectively removed). Are you sure that you do have a damp problem and not a ventilation problem?

    https://www.nhbc.co.uk/binaries/con...owners/moving-in/running-in-your-new-home.pdf
     

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  4. James.1986

    James.1986 Member

    That could suggest an issue with air circulation/ condensation if they are filling up all over the house. Do your windows fog excessively?
     
  5. CBJGLASGOW

    CBJGLASGOW Member

     
  6. CBJGLASGOW

    CBJGLASGOW Member

    Hello Lads,
    There was no sign of water in the hole at the front North facing wall. Readings were max 20.
    Readings up side of house escalated up to 40 by the time I got to the back south facing corner.
    I'm going to dig down in this area today.
    Windows and back door are open from spring to autumn almost but my kitchen window middle pane started to fog up occasionally over the past 3/4 months. I thought it had blown but it could all be damp as you mention. My house is brick build council terrace from late 40's early 50's.
    A few years back I had loose render under kitchen window. I had it replaced but the cement was all loose around a few if the bricks that I could see. The guy did a hash job throwing some cement in the spaces. This could be the solution? The corner area is the back south facing wall and the from North facing wall has been dug up picture shows bricks to the right of the wall and I went down just under 30cm. No sign of water. I clearly have a damp issue.
     

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  7. CBJGLASGOW

    CBJGLASGOW Member

     
  8. CBJGLASGOW

    CBJGLASGOW Member

    Update. I dug a hole at the back corner south facing. No sign of wat, just damp tarmac. These are photos from behind kickboards under kitchen corner cupboards. Any advice please?
     

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  9. HarryL1234

    HarryL1234 Screwfix Select

    In your second photo, is the foot of the unit hanging in mid air?

    That aside, where you get a reading of 40, is the reading higher the closer to the ground (suggests rising damp) or lower (suggests a leak or rainwater ingress)?
     
  10. dray

    dray Screwfix Select

    Now you have lost me,why are you asking about behind the kickboards? Looks fine to me or are you thinking the problem could be lurking under there!
     
  11. CBJGLASGOW

    CBJGLASGOW Member

     
  12. CBJGLASGOW

    CBJGLASGOW Member

    Hello Harry, I never noticed the leg in mid air. I'll check that again thanks.
    I thought about rising damp, would there be signs of mould anywhere as there's nothing anywhere in the house? Would a damp proofing company be able to determine this?
    There could be ingress of water? Would this come up from the tarmac or through old render?
    Can't understand the smell of damp in the corner of my bedroom though?
    Thank you.
     
  13. CBJGLASGOW

    CBJGLASGOW Member

     
  14. CBJGLASGOW

    CBJGLASGOW Member

    Hello Dray, The house is from late 40's. Would there have been more obvious signs of a water leak.
    I know it's probably excessive with the dehumidifiers. I think I was just trying to capture every bit of moisture there was around. Could they also take it from outside as my windows are generally always open?
    Damp proofing may be the answer rather than a leak?
     
  15. CBJGLASGOW

    CBJGLASGOW Member

    Hello James,
    I have a lot of condensation in the winter compared to my neighbours. My kitchen window figs up slightly, not often for the past few months.
     
  16. James.1986

    James.1986 Member

    Have you lifted carpets/flooring in the corner you can smell the damp?
     
  17. CBJGLASGOW

    CBJGLASGOW Member

     
  18. HarryL1234

    HarryL1234 Screwfix Select

    Water coming up via capilary action (soaking up) is rising damp. It could be localised where there is an underground leak, or the water level is above your DPC or your DPC has failed. A competent builder will, of course be able to confirm this, but you can also check it yourself as I posted earlier. If your bedroom is upstairs, then it sounds more likely the water is coming down (or that you have more than one issue, or that the cause is lack of ventilation, etc). Depending on the location of the damp, consider the problem may be water coming from a neighbouring property - it happens!
     
  19. CBJGLASGOW

    CBJGLASGOW Member

    Hello Harry,
    Yes I may have more than one problem. My neighbour doesn't share any down pipes or gutters at the front and my windows are nearly always open. I'll move the cabinet to see if this makes a difference for now.
    I could have a problem with the walls soaking up water as the brickwork behind the kitchen wall isn't great and the front never gets any sun. A job for next year now as I'm at least lucky that I can only smell damp and no sign of mould or damp patches anywhere. Yet anyway Thank you.
     
  20. Alan22

    Alan22 Screwfix Select

    That damp patch on the tarmac, you didn't dig down enough to find anything that could be leaking, the idea is you dig till you find a pipe not water.
     
    James.1986 likes this.

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